James Franklin opens his first spring practice as Penn State's head coach March 17, with the Blue-White Game scheduled for April 12 at Beaver Stadium.

Franklin gave his assistant coaches off last weekend following National Signing Day, which the new coach called a celebration of Penn State's recruiting class. The coaches now will begin the process of evaluating the current roster before spring drills.

"It think that it's very, very important, from a moral standpoint, when you work as hard at something that you take time to take it all in, and that's what [Signing Day] is all about," Franklin said last week.

Franklin is scheduled to make his first Lehigh Valley appearance Feb. 28 at the Nike Coach of the Year clinic. The annual clinic, held at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Fogelsville, features high school and college coaches for three days of non-stop football.

Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher, Pitt coach Paul Chryst and Ball State coach Pete Lembo also are on the program.